Characterisation of ureaurethane elastomers with rapeseed oil-based polyol

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of rapeseed oil-based (RO) polyol on the thermal and mechanical properties of the tested ureaurethane elastomers (EPUUs) produced with poly(ethylene adipate) (PEA). The bio-polyol was synthesized by epoxidation and opening of oxirane rings using diethylene glycol (DG). The use of RO polyol in the amount 40 wt.% in polyol premixes changed the chemical structure of EPUUs with different hard segments (HS) content, what in a consequence indicates the change in quantity of the number of hydrogen bonds and degree of phase separation (DPS). The consequence of these changes are variation in the thermal characteristics of these materials. The DSC analysis showed that an addition of the RO polyol causes the increase in the glass transition temperature of the soft phase with an increase of HS content in EPUUs. An introduction of the RO polyol also resulted in an decrease in the elongation at break with an increase of HS content in the modified elastomers.